If you sail on Lake Hartwell & want to meet up w/ another Hobie, let me know. Annacat is my daughter's nicname & what we call the boat. I'm her dad.. & normally take my sons (8 & 10) out sailing. We're also going to try sailing out from Charleston later this year.

There was a HUGE regatta on Hartwell a few weeks ago, Spring Fever, that had a large Hobie 16 class. Would have been a good learning experience, I know I learned a lot, I've been sailing less than a year

I've only sailed Hartwell but have heard that Lake Keowee has better wind (more consistant wind). Anyone have any experience with it? Besides the sailing clubs at Hartwell and Keowee, are there any landings that offer good set up? Something other than riprap lining the landings. Thanks.

The Corps suggested the Green Pond ramp. It has a sandy beach beside the ramp - but the ramp has riprap. Looking at the landing from Google Earth, it appears the sandy beach "might" be something worth checking out. There is a fairly decent setup out at Portman Marina. The launch ramp is divided by a floating dock.

There has to be an ideal place out there somehwere. When I spoke with the Corps, they sounded somewhat interested in this problem. I think they would likely approve an area for beach launch (using beach wheels) if a few people wanted it. The lady I spoke with said that the swim beaches are designated swim areas & the current rules prohibit "boats" in those areas.

If there are a few of us out there that would like a beach launch site.. lets get together & approach the Corps w/an idea. I think the only reason a beach is not already available for launch.. is that they have never been asked.

We’re heading out of town for the weekend. I’m not going to be back on Hartwell until next week. Otherwise, I would get my Hobie out there too Bacho. Email me or post the next time you plan to launch. It sounds like we’re at about the same stage of learning.

Would anyone be interested in getting a few cats together for a run to the dam & back? Could start at the double bridges (Hwy 24 / Portman / Broyles area). It looks to be around 15 miles each direction.

Spent the afternoon on hartwell yesterday. Pretty dissappointing wind from what was forecasted. I would do a dam run on a nice day. Lets band together for a cat beach. There appears to be unused swimming like beach at the broyles ramp but its 100yds from the boat ramp.

hey guys, i have been dreaming of sailing for 3 years now and yesterday i bought a hobie 17 ... great condition, just no jib- so today i take it to the lake to see if it floats and truly realize i dont fully understand how to launch this thing. im am very familiar with the theory of sailing and all the theoretical information on it.sadly tho1 i cant get the sail all the way to the top so it clicks and locks. 2 the trapeze wire seams to just bounce around everywhere and other minor things.

dont get me wrong, im a very capabel person. its just theres no youtube vids on launching and i dont know a singel person who sails.- i live in Spartanburg and would love to go sailing with some one in hartwell

hey guys, i have been dreaming of sailing for 3 years now and yesterday i bought a hobie 17 ... great condition, just no jib- so today i take it to the lake to see if it floats and truly realize i dont fully understand how to launch this thing. im am very familiar with the theory of sailing and all the theoretical information on it.sadly tho1 i cant get the sail all the way to the top so it clicks and locks. 2 the trapeze wire seams to just bounce around everywhere and other minor things.

dont get me wrong, im a very capabel person. its just theres no youtube vids on launching and i dont know a singel person who sails.- i live in Spartanburg and would love to go sailing with some one in hartwell

so for now it hasn't hit the water yet..... sunday anyone?

I sailed Hartwell yesterday and put a hole in my sail otherwise I would take you up on your offer for today. However I make a trip there at least once a month and we can meet up next time.

The sail can be very hard to pull up, make sure your mast track is clean and some wax on the bolt rope in the sail also helps. Not sure what your describing with your trapeze wires, worn out bungees?

The Corps suggested the Green Pond ramp. It has a sandy beach beside the ramp - but the ramp has riprap. Looking at the landing from Google Earth, it appears the sandy beach "might" be something worth checking out. There is a fairly decent setup out at Portman Marina. The launch ramp is divided by a floating dock.

There has to be an ideal place out there somehwere. When I spoke with the Corps, they sounded somewhat interested in this problem. I think they would likely approve an area for beach launch (using beach wheels) if a few people wanted it. The lady I spoke with said that the swim beaches are designated swim areas & the current rules prohibit "boats" in those areas.

If there are a few of us out there that would like a beach launch site.. lets get together & approach the Corps w/an idea. I think the only reason a beach is not already available for launch.. is that they have never been asked.

I have used the swim beach to launch my boat a couple times this winter, obviously there were no swimmers and I asked permission from the campground host at the Broyles ramp who had no problem with it.

I need to try out the Green Pond ramp, the rip-rap doesn't scare me as long as I could walk the boat through the water to push up the ramp.

i tested out the boat today .... finally figured a bunch of stuff outsailed for about 3 hours.. on and off with gusts of wind and all i got to say is " im in love " sailing is defiantly something i can get use to - i had like 3-5 gallons of water drain from my hulls after i putt it on my trailer is that normal?

and how do i put images on here? im proud of my boat and want to show it off